The gleam in Brett Favre’s eyes as he sprinted downfield to celebrate a touchdown pass?

Some things never change.

As long as Favre still looks like that after a touchdown, as long as he still feels the way he did after his new team, the Minnesota Vikings, beat the Browns, 34-20, on Sunday in Cleveland, as long as an NFL team still wants him to be its quarterback, that should be enough.

With each will-he-or-won’t-he offseason process Favre puts himself, the NFL and the national sports media through, his once-unquestioned popularity seems to have eroded.

Fans say they are tired of his annual deliberations, his indecision, his goodbyes and hellos.

But are they really tired of Favre? Or are they just tired of hearing about him?

If ESPN didn’t have a reporter delivering daily updates from outside the high school in Hattiesburg, Miss., where Favre works out in the offseason, if every sports talk radio host didn’t schedule a 10-minute segment on the guy at least once a week, if teams didn’t place artificial deadlines on Favre to make up his mind – before he was ready to – how would Favre’s efficient, ebullient performance Sunday afternoon be viewed?

With a collective annoyed groan, as was clearly heard in some parts of the country?

Or with an amused grin that a 39-year-old guy with fraying tendons in his legendary arm, who owns enough NFL passing records to qualify for a ticket into the Hall of Fame, still sprints down the field and tackles young receiver Percy Harvin in the end zone after a touchdown?

“I don’t know how many touchdowns I’ve thrown (464), but they’ve all been a blast,” Favre said after the game. “I was pretty excited on that one.”

In other words, it hasn’t gotten old?

“No,” he said with a smile. “I get older. … But it hasn’t yet. I had a lot of fun today. I had a blast.”

Favre’s passes might not be fired at warp speed anymore, but they’re still strong, his playmaking and poise are still sharp, his love for the game is still bubbling over.

Though he’s only just met his new teammates, they already seem enamored with each other.

“It’s real man, it’s all real. He just loves the game,” said Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson, whose locker was strategically placed, by the team, next to Favre’s to help the team-building process.

“He’s like a spark that lights up the locker room. All the great players I’ve met are like that. Brett Favre, Michael Irvin, Deion Sanders. These guys are just great guys, they just love playing.”

Because Favre missed the first part of training camp with his latest bout of indecision, his bond with his new teammates is still in the developmental stage.

It was obvious Sunday there were still kinks to work out and chemistry to build. Little things, like knowing how his receivers will react to certain coverages or timing on quick passes.

It was also obvious why Favre seemed so eager to join the Vikings.

Peterson had another monstrous day, racking up 180 yards and three touchdowns on just 25 carries. Harvin, a rookie who was just 3 years old when Favre was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in 1991, has the look of a dynamic playmaker.

The Vikings offensive line is stout, their defense is aggressive.

With Favre at quarterback, even the 39-year-old version of Favre at quarterback, they can easily contend for a Super Bowl.

So really, what’s the problem?

Favre can still play. He’s still fun to watch. And an NFL team, a really good NFL team, still wants him to be its quarterback.

In an era of pink slips and early retirements, it’s hard to understand the backlash against Favre.

Especially when Favre the player is separated from the ongoing saturation coverage of his now-annual offseason flip-flops.

Does he invite some of that coverage? Sure.

Does he invite the level of round-the-clock coverage he’s been subjected to? Not even close.

If anything, at 39 and just trying to play as long as someone will have him, it’s easier to identify with him now than before.

We don’t often do this with our sports stars, but if you can, imagine being 39 with a golden arm, a still-warm passion for the game, and knowing you might be able to coax one or two more good seasons out of your tired body.

Would you take a chance on walking away too soon? Would you retire if you weren’t absolutely sure? Would you retire just because you know others will be annoyed if you put them through another indecisive offseason? Would you pass on an opportunity to hand the ball off to Adrian Peterson in his prime?